Weather forecast – UK to be lashed by week of torrential rain with thundery showers from today – The Sun

THUNDERY showers are set to batter Britain today – before a week of heavy rain is forecast to kick off May.

The Met Office has warned of a miserable day ahead for almost all of the UK.

A spokesman said: "Cloud and outbreaks of rain will spiral over the north of the UK during the morning, with heavy and locally thundery downpours following to southern areas from the southwest."

It comes after weeks of sunshine teased Brits stuck in lockdown amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The country is due for two days of torrential showers from today – bringing the equivalent of a week's worth – forecast after baking 25C temperatures last weekend.

Met Office forecaster Marco Petagna said the grim weather coming in will be accompanied by plunging temperatures.

The Met Office predicts the first week of May will be "unsettled" with plenty of "bands of rain" hitting the country.

A long-range forecast said: "Atlantic weather systems bring further bands of rain to many areas, particularly in the south and the west of the UK.

"It is expected to be windy at times, especially along southern and western coastlines."

Mr Petagna said: “Some areas will struggle to get above 8C.

“These areas will have been more than 10C higher in the past few days, so it’s a big change.”

The government has warned Brits confined to their homes some properties could see flooding.

In Alton, Hampshire, the government’s flood information service said the persistent rainfall “could continue for several weeks or longer”.

Meanwhile, in Lambourn Valley, Berkshire, it says: “Property flooding is possible in the longer term.”

Britain's warm spell is decidedly over, forecasters say, with the mercury sadly plummeting back to this time of year's expected temperatures – in the mid-teens during the day with lows of around 7C.

The Met Office said: "The confidence towards the end of this period is low, but after the unsettled start to May, there could be a return of more settled conditions, bringing longer drier spells into the second week of May.

"Temperatures should be around average for the time of year, with some warmer days possible in the east or southeast."

Today is set to be another grey day, with some brief sunny intervals but plenty of showers too.

Some of the rainfall will be thundery in places, with some wind in the south and far north.